Northern Unit Refurbishments and depot allocations.

[LOL The Irony]

TPE and Avanti do, it just doesn’t work 100% of the time.

Avanti only have it in first on all trains and TPE don't have it in standard on the 185s. And you're right about it not working.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Precisely. Those of an anti-Northern slant on here like to make issues of all sorts of minor things and when they are resolved they’ll always find a way to still complain at something that is irrelevant to 99.9% of the population.

The worst thing about the PIS on the Northern legacy units is the way it's set up. In particular the way the screens show "please mind the gap between the train and the platform" for a few seconds, before switching to the next line which just contains the word "edge." It looks so amateurish and clunky.

 

[LOL The Irony]

The worst thing about the PIS on the Northern legacy units is the way it's set up. In particular the way the screens show "please mind the gap between the train and the platform" for a few seconds, before switching to the next line which just contains the word "edge." It looks so amateurish and clunky.

But then we get gold such as "where this train terminates customers".

 

[skyhigh]

The worst thing about the PIS on the Northern legacy units is the way it's set up. In particular the way the screens show "please mind the gap between the train and the platform" for a few seconds, before switching to the next line which just contains the word "edge." It looks so amateurish and clunky.

To be fair that's only on the units with the blue screens (which is some 158s and 156s?)

 

[Neptune]

To be fair that's only on the units with the blue screens (which is some 158s and 156s?)

Yes that’s the entire problem on this forum. People say things that you’d think were a problem with all 300+ units making Northern out as inept at setting these screens up (rather than the fact that it is more down to the leasing company choosing it and then the way it was set up when fitted at refurbishment).

For those that don’t know the few units with that terrible non scrolling screen are 158752-759/901-910 and the 323’s which I’ve seen. That’s 35 units out of 300+. Most areas of Northern won’t even see any of these units.

 

[AJDesiro]

Avanti only have it in first on all trains

Avanti have WiFi in standard class as well, the only issue is the refurbished WiFi isn't great.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yes that’s the entire problem on this forum. People say things that you’d think were a problem with all 300+ units making Northern out as inept at setting these screens up (rather than the fact that it is more down to the leasing company choosing it and then the way it was set up when fitted at refurbishment).

For those that don’t know the few units with that terrible non scrolling screen are 158752-759/901-910 and the 323’s which I’ve seen. That’s 35 units out of 300+. Most areas of Northern won’t even see any of these units.

Those units all crop up frequently on the Leeds-Wigan run, so I assumed (wrongly) that it was a standard feature of the Northern refurbishment. Bit annoying that the units with the best seats are also the units with the worst PIS.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Avanti have WiFi in standard class as well, the only issue is the refurbished WiFi is even worse than before.

Well it wasn't even working when I tried. TPE's at least sends you to a landing page, although doesn't even let you log in or sign up.

 

[Liverpool 507]

Avanti only have it in first on all trains and TPE don't have it in standard on the 185s. And you're right about it not working.

185s have it in Standard as well. There’s wifi beacons on the ceiling of each carriage.

 

[LOL The Irony]

185s have it in Standard as well. There’s wifi beacons on the ceiling of each carriage.

Farcical. I don't think I've ever been on a Northern train with digital mods or already built in that the wifi didn't work on. When you're getting shown up by Northern of all TOCs, you should probably take a look at yourselves.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

185s have it in Standard as well. There’s wifi beacons on the ceiling of each carriage.

Can't remember the last time it was actually switched on on the Leeds to Huddersfield stoppers though. It's as if TPE think we local plebs don't deserve it! The electrification (and presumed return to Northern if TOCs are still a thing by then) can't come soon enough!

 

[LOL The Irony]

Can't remember the last time it was actually switched on on the Leeds to Huddersfield stoppers though. It's as if TPE think we local plebs don't deserve it! The electrification (and presumed return to Northern if TOCs are still a thing by then) can't come soon enough!

It wasn't even switched on on a Redcar. As I said, farcical that an InterCity operator is being shown up by Northern.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It wasn't even switched on on a Redcar. As I said, farcical that an InterCity operator is being shown up by Northern.

Ah, but that's because Cleveland is still on dial-up!

 

[DBS92042]

156438 worked the below this morning (for refurbishment?):

Realtime Trains | 5Z56 0330 Heaton T&R.S.M.D. to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 08/08/2022

Real-time train running information for 5Z56 0330 departure from Heaton T&R.S.M.D. to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 08/08/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[diligentdave]

156438 worked the below this morning (for refurbishment?):

Realtime Trains | 5Z56 0330 Heaton T&R.S.M.D. to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 08/08/2022

Real-time train running information for 5Z56 0330 departure from Heaton T&R.S.M.D. to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 08/08/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Basic C6 overhaul.

 

[7522]

158's are starting to get the moquette covers now. I have seen them on 158816 and 859.

 

[NoOnesFool]

I was suprised that Northern didn't fit plug sockets for laptop charging on the Class 333. That said, the interior looks strikingly modern for their age.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I was suprised that Northern didn't fit plug sockets for laptop charging on the Class 333. That said, the interior looks strikingly modern for their age.

With a maximum journey time of around 45mins, it probably isn't something that's needed all that much. Nice to have, but not an essential. Particularly with the lack of tables, because despite their name it isn't that comfortable using a laptop on your lap. Especially when it's busy, when those using a laptop are more likely to be on board.

 

[skyhigh]

I was suprised that Northern didn't fit plug sockets for laptop charging on the Class 333.

Firstly there's no tables to use laptops on and secondly USB is cheaper. Not only would 240v wiring cost more, you'd also have to upgrade the transformers to supply enough power as they weren't designed for it. With the maximum journey time 333s do USB is fine.

 

[NoOnesFool]

Firstly there's no tables to use laptops on and secondly USB is cheaper. Not only would 240v wiring cost more, you'd also have to upgrade the transformers to supply enough power as they weren't designed for it. With the maximum journey time 333s do USB is fine.

I couldn't see any USB cables on the train either when I travelled last week. I know this as I needed to charge my tablet.

 

[Neptune]

I couldn't see any USB cables on the train either when I travelled last week. I know this as I needed to charge my tablet.

Only 333011 has been done so far. The rest will follow.

 

[skyhigh]

I couldn't see any USB cables on the train either when I travelled last week. I know this as I needed to charge my tablet.

Only 333011 has been done so far. The rest will follow.

009 was released a week or so ago so that's 2 completed. 007 should be out next week.

 

[northernchris]

158867 and 158871 have received the digi mods, and 158869 is currently at Holbeck receiving them.

 

[connorwilsonwy]

My opinion of the Class 333 refurb as recently traveled on 333009:

Practically no CCTV
New displays only showed Ads
Lights seemed ok
USB ports ❤️

 

[py_megapixel]

As promised, now rolling out on the advert screens on all the legacy fleet. Where connections are available live departure information is also shown.

(Image shows train calling pattern and live times on a screen in the saloon of a refurbished train).

Very nice (and about time too!).

Displaying the departure time from the origin is an interesting decision - not sure if the average passenger will make much use of that piece of information, but it will be handy when trying to look up the train you're on in RealTime Trains!

Speaking of the information system, my Northern train today played a pre-recorded announcement which said "Passengers which have just joined the train, welcome aboard. Please have your ticket and railcards ready for inspection. If you have a mobile ticket, can you please make sure it is activated. Thank you." -- I've never heard that before. Does the system now do it automatically at specific points, or does it have to be triggered manually by the guard?

One thing I can say for Northern is that they have wifi fitted on pretty much all of their trains, something the big boys such as TPE and Avanti don't.

When present, Northern's WiFi seems to work far better than other TOCs'. At the moment it is pot luck whether you get it or not on any particular train, but that is gradually improving.

 

[skyhigh]

Speaking of the information system, my Northern train today played a pre-recorded announcement which said "Passengers which have just joined the train, welcome aboard. Please have your ticket and railcards ready for inspection. If you have a mobile ticket, can you please make sure it is activated. Thank you." -- I've never heard that before. Does the system do it automatically at specific points, or does it have to be triggered manually by the guard?

Was it a 195/331, and if not, was it a male Geordie voice?

 

[py_megapixel]

Was it a 195/331, and if not, was it a male Geordie voice?

No, it was the TrainFX system, and I think the same male voice as all the other generic announcements ("Customers are requested to remain vigilant", "We hope you've enjoyed travelling with Northern today" and so forth). I couldn't hear very clearly as we were barrelling along quite fast!

 

[Ben Anslow]

Was it a 195/331, and if not, was it a male Geordie voice?

They removed that voice ages ago as part of removing those unnecessary announcements

 

[skyhigh]

They removed that voice ages ago as part of removing those unnecessary announcements

It's still on the manual announcements list so it can be heard.

 

[DBS92042]

150145 from Newton Heath to Wolverton Works this morning